BEIJING, Jan. 13 (Xinhua) -- The Red Cross Society of China has decided to donate one million U.S. dollars of emergency aid to quake-hit Haiti, said a statement from the State Council on Wednesday.

    A 7.0-magnitude earthquake hit Haiti on Tuesday local time, collapsing a hospital and damaging government buildings in its capital city of Port-au-Prince.

Backgrounder: Recent major earthquakes on American continent

Chinese rescue team ready to depart for quake-hit Haiti

Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping (R) shakes hands with Nawaz Sharif, chief of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 12, 2010. (Xinhua/Rao Aimin) Photo Gallery>>>

    BEIJING, Jan. 13 (Xinhua) -- A 50-member Chinese rescue team is ready to depart for quake-hit Haiti later Wednesday afternoon, hours after the 7.0-magnitude earthquake rattled the Caribbean country on Tuesday local time.

    The team consists of search and rescue personnel, who have conducted many rescue tasks of this kind in the past years, and three sniffer dogs, Liu Xiangyang, deputy chief of the National Earthquake Disaster Emergency Rescue Team, told Xinhua at the Beijing Capital International Airport. Full story

Major quake rocks Haiti, many nations ready with assistance

Scared people stand nearby a collapsed building after the 7.0 magnitude earthquake in Port-Au-Prince of Haiti, Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2010.(Xinhua/AFP Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    MEXICO CITY, Jan. 12 (Xinhua) -- A major earthquake rocked Haiti on Tuesday and "catastrophic" casualties were feared although no official reports are currently available.

    The magnitude-7.0 quake, the strongest ever recorded in the area, collapsed a hospital in a hillside district of Port-au-Prince, according to local media reports. Full story

Major quake jolts Haiti, may cause severe casualties

Picture taken on Jan. 12, 2010 shows the damaged Presidential Palace in Haiti's capital Port-au-Prince. A major earthquake rocked Haiti on Tuesday and "catastrophic" casualties were feared although no official reports are currently available. (Xinhua/Radioteleginenhaiti.com) Photo Gallery>>>

UN chief concerned for people of Haiti after major earthquake

    UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 12 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was "very concerned" for the people of Haiti and also for many UN staff who serve in the small Caribbean country, which was jolted by a major earthquake, a UN statement said here Tuesday.

    "My heart goes out to the people of Haiti after this devastating earthquake," Ban said in the statement issued Tuesday night. Full story

Obama to offer assistance to quake-stricken Haiti

    WASHINGTON, Jan. 12 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Barack Obama offered Tuesday to assist quake-stricken Haiti. The U.S. government agencies and the military have begun to prepare for humanitarian mission.

    "My thoughts and prayers go out to those who have been affected by this earthquake. We are closely monitoring the situation and west and ready to assist the people of Haiti," Obama said in a statement released by the White House. Full story

UN headquarters in Haiti seriously damaged by quake

    UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 12 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations said Tuesday the headquarters of the UN mission in Haiti "sustained serious damage" after a major earthquake hit the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince.

    "A large number of personnel remain unaccounted for," a statement issued here said. Full story